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Eye of the Tiger

Time to fight back

Filepic: Combo shows handout photos released by French Police in Paris early on January 8, 2015 of suspects Cherif Kouachi (L), aged 32, and his brother Said Kouachi (R), aged 34, wanted in connection with an attack at the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in the French capital that killed at least 12 people. - AFP

IN a spiral of events that started on 7th of January 2014, the world were shocked when militant brothers carried out the massacre of 12 people at satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo. The brothers named Cherif Kouachi and Said Kouachi raced up the newspaper company office in Paris during noon time, and headed straight to paper editor Stephane Charbonnier, killing him and his police bodyguard.

They then continued their killing spree with seven other journalists, a maintenance worker and a visitor. Before making an exit, they paused to kill a Muslim police officer.

When they were cornered up before being killed by the police, another associated gunman Amedy Coulibaly took hostages at a kosher grocery on the eastern edge of Paris, ultimately taking down four innocent lives prior succumbing his life to the police. Authorities said Coulibaly threatened to kill his hostages if police launch an assault on the cornered brothers, prior to his demise.

This turn of events shocked the world. Many believe religion is a factor, particularly the Muslims due to the background of the terrorists. But how wrong they are! Its time to declare war. Not against the religion, but to declare war against terrorism and extremism.

Those terrorists are not ‘real’ followers of a religion of peace. They merely deceived everyone to achieve their personal objectives. Religions no matter which they are, were created to guide humans to live harmoniously, not the other way around.

Its time to declare war against extremism. And it is not an easy war to win.

Every faction, every religion , every country , every race and every individual must unite for the cause. We must speak out loud we reject extremism.

Terrorist groups like Al Qaeda and ISIS are difficult nemesis as they exist around the world and in many disguises. But one thing for sure, they are growing in numbers in growing more audacious in their attempts.

Even back home in Malaysia, we should be wary of the influence of radicalism and extremism creeping into our country. Political leaders, religion leaders , NGOs must voice out against extremism. Thus, in this way we can conjure a healthy moderate mentality and prevent the spread of dangerous ideologies.

Besides, I’m hoping prominent local leaders can come out and condemn these murderers. We should urge the vast majority of good people to denounce these. Malaysia can do it, with all of its people united to say no to extremism in whatever form.